While the mandatory retirement age for all Gardaí is 60, Garda James O'Mahony is one of several Gardaí who were given permission to stay on an extra year due to the extra demands of the pandemic.
O'Mahony is currently the second oldest serving garda in the country and the oldest in Cork.
He is based in Bandon, where he has spent most of his 40 years of service.
A well-liked juvenile liaison officer, O'Mahony founded the Garda Youth Awards in the West Cork garda division in 1996. Since then the awards scheme has gone nationwide, with each garda division issuing their own awards.
O'Mahony has spent the past 26 years in the role of juvenile liaison officer. Upon retirement he is set to take up a part time role with Kinsale Youth Support Services.
